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Posts with tag 'wireless culture'
CityWare: Facebook + Bluetooth Mashup
According to this BBC article, a team of Bath University scientists is combining the power of social networking site Facebook with Bluetooth to learn more about human interactions.
To facilitate this, the researchers have set up Bluetooth proximity nodes around the UK and at locations in the US. Users opt in by registering with a Facebook tool, called Cityware.Then, when they are out and about, the Bluetooth nodes--which are constantly scanning for Bluetooth-enabled devices in a given area--send that information back to servers which compare the IDs of the gadgets with any enabled Facebook profiles.
As described by Dr Vassilis Kostakos, research associate at the University of Bath: "When you return to Facebook you will see a list of all the devices you were near and the link to profiles of people who have tagged themselves on Cityware."
If you find that to be a rather antisocial approach to social networking, well--you are not alone. Witness Gizmodo's take on the network:
Bluetooth/Facebook Nodes Take Even More Human Interaction Out of Meeting People
Or how about this one, courtesy of the boygeniusreport:
Walk by total strangers and meet them. But later.
In defense of the Bath team, the Facebook tool is said to be part of a wider plan to study issues regarding pervasive computing in the environment.
But that won't stop us from having a little fun with it in the meantime.
New Motorola Bluetooth Sunglasses
Motorola and Oakley have produced a newer, slimmer version of their Bluetooth sunglasses, for listening to music wirelessly on the go whilst simultaneously protecting your eyes from those harmful UV rays. Named the O ROKR Pro, the product also supports AVRCP so you can control your music directly from the shades, and they can double as a wireless headset.
BTW, I am curious: is it really a good idea to market a product with a single letter in the name? How do search engines handle that?
Kameraflage
Via coolhunting, a technology called, and by, Kameraflage, which creates displays that are invisible to the naked eye but will magically show up on an image taken by a digital camera.
It works by taking advantage of the fact that digital cameras see a broader spectrum of light, particularly infrared, than human eyes. Potential applications include everything from clothing to billboards, and even movies.
My first thoughts on seeing this were that it was specifically intended for DRM, but that is a narrow view, since it can be applied to a variety of cool and imaginitive applications as well.
The link.
Apple iPhone Bluetooth Headset Arrives
Up to now I have resisted commenting on the iPhone. Nothing against it--I am just quite happy with my Blackjack, and also there are roughly 109 other blogs and websites already discussing the phenomenon. However, when I heard that Apple's version of a Bluetooth wireless headset is now available, I figured it was time to take a look.
It is small and stylish enough (this is Apple after all), but it seems like it may not be Insanely Greattm. According to this article on Slashgear, for example, the sound quality leaves a lot to be desired.
So although I'm sure iPhonians will embrace it, warts and all, it doesn't seem like it will be a threat to the truly Insanely Greattm Jawbone.
NEC Pen Computer
NEC has developed a pen-style concept personal computer named P-ISM, which somehow stands for "Pen-style Personal Networking Gadget Package". This was apparently announced a few years ago and I somehow missed it, but it is still cool and hasn't been obsoleted by any means.
The different pens work like this: one pen acts as a cellular phone with handwriting data input capability, the second pen is a camera scanner, the third pen projects a virtual keyboard, the fourth pen projects a display screen, and the fifth can function as a peronal ID key with cashless pass function. The pens are connected using Bluetooth (that must be fun to coordinate), and the whole set is connected to the Internet via the cellular phone function.
Link courtesy of slashgear.com.
Podcast: Best of Bluetooth Headsets
At Gearlog Radio: "The Best of Bluetooth Headsets, Geek Politics, and More".
Interesting podcast at Gearlog including (among other things) a review of Bluetooth headsets (yeah, I know--you know that already from the title). According to the post: "We dive into the world of Bluetooth headsets and which ones are the sexiest and most stylish." With an intro like that, how can you resist?
European vs. American mobile usage
Michael Mace has written an extensive post talking about the differences in wireless culture between Americans and Europeans.
The blipvert* version: "In the US, a cellphone is a tool. In Europe, a mobile phone is a lifestyle."
I will let you proceed to reading Michael words rather than rehashing them here, but one insight I liked was: "People in the US can be just as enthusiastic about mobilizing technology, but they often think in terms of shrinking and mobilizing the PC and Internet, rather than growing the cellphone."
*Term loosely borrowed from 80's futuristic movie: Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future to refer to a highly compressed, neural blitz of information.